Game racket



Feb. 13, 1,945. H H KENT 2,369,145

GAME RACKET Filed Sept. 18, 1942 Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED GAME RACKET Horace Kent, Columbus, Ohio I 4 Application September 18, 1942, Serial No. 458,840 2' 1 3 Claims. (01.273 13) This invention relates to game rackets, particularly rackets of the type employing a netted frame from which extends an elongated handle formed to be'grasped by a game participant so that the racket may be employed for the purpose of striking or receiving batted or thrown balls of the inflated or gas-filled type.

While the racket forming the present invention may be used for the playing of many different types of games, such as tennis, indoor racquet, lacrosse and the like, it has been particularly designed for a game known as racketball. This latter game is played on a floor or court similar in proportions and arrangement to that of the game of basket ball. A round inflated ball somewhat larger in diameter than a tennis ball and less resilient, is batted by the players with stiflly netted rackets and is adapted to be caught or trapped by other players using loosely netted rackets. In this game, the players of thecontending teams are often in ,close proximity to one another, and as'the action of th game is rapid, the swinging of the rackets is apt to cause injury to the players unless appropriate safeguards are provided.

' It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a racket adapted for the batting or catching of inflated game balls wherein the net-receiving frame of the racket is encased or embedded within a surrrounding covering composed of a compressible blow .or shock-absorbing material, the latter being so formed and disposed as to protect the players of the game from injuries resulting from their being accidentally struck by rackets wielded by other players, thereby precluding injuries from the causes indicated.

For a further understanding of the invention,

referenceis to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a racket embodying the constructional features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention wherein the racket is of the loosely netted type;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional. View on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the handle of a game racket formed in accordance with the present invention. The forward end of this racket terminates in a net-receiving frame 2, which may be formed from wood, metal or other suitable relatively unyielding materials. racket has been shown as being provided with a rigid or tautly drawn netting 3 composed preferably of catgut cords or strings suitably retained under tension in connection with the frame 2. In the present invention, the frame 2 is encased or embedded within a covering 4 which, advantageously, may be composed of sponge rubber, but may be made from any other compressible material of a yielding shock-absorbing character. The material 4 is grooved as at 5 to receive the frame 2 and may be adhesively or otherwise joined with the surfaces thereof. The covering protects the frame and all but its inner side and possesses a body or thickness so proportioned that if the racket should be brought into violent contact with the head or other portions of the body of the game player, the ensuing shock will be absorbed in very large part by the covering and any serious injury to the player so accidentally struck thereby avoided.

In Figs. 4 to 6, the same construction is utilized in a loosely netted racket. In the game of racket ball, the racket shown at 6 in Fig. 4 is employed by the goal keepers for the 'purpose of catching or trapping an inflated ball batted toward them by the other players. The racket 6, therefore, has a loose net I to enable the all to be caught or trapped therein instead of using the taut or stiffly strung net shown in Fig. 1. The net frame 8 of the racket shown at 6 is guarded or protected by means of the compressible covering 9 in the same manner as in the previously described form of the invention. The frame 8 may have its inner side grooved as at In for the reception of a wire such body as to resiliently absorb shock and prevent injury to game players struck accidentally by the racket. The covering surrounds the racket frame 101'! all but its inner side, that is, that portion of the fram from which the netting pro- In Fig. 1, the

jets, and in this manner completely safeguards the players of the game from injury.

What I claim is:

1 1. A game racket comprising a frame substantially elliptical in plan configuration and substantially rectangular in transverse cross section, a ball-contacting net carried by said frame, an elongated handle joined to said frame, and a 3 covering of compressible material applied to and surrounding said frame .On all but, its inner side. 2,. A hand-wielded racket for striking game balls comprising a net-receiving frame composed of a hard, rigid and unyielding material and sub longitudinally from one end of. said frame, and a protective covering of yieldab'le and compresjoining end of said handle, said covering being formed with a continuous pocket in wihch said frame is positioned.

3. A hand-wield racket for striking game balls comprising a net-receiving frame substantially rectangular in cross section and composed of a relatively hard, rigid and unyielding material. said frame being substantially eliptical in plan, a ball-contacting net secured to ,said frame and extending across theopening formed therein, a

. handle extending longitudinally from said frame,

sible material applied to said frame and the. ad-

open-sided pocket in-which said frame is positioned.

- HORACE H. KENT. 

